UIC vs. Michigan

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and University of Michigan Ann Arbor? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Illinois Chicago
University of Michigan Ann Arbor

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • Michigan 52,855
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • Michigan #48
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • Michigan -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • Michigan

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • Michigan $17,736
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • Michigan $60,946
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • Michigan $15,328
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • Michigan $17,574
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • Michigan $25,099
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • Michigan 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • Michigan 98,310
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • Michigan 15,373
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • Michigan 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • Michigan 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • Michigan 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • Michigan A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • Michigan Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • Michigan 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • Michigan Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • Michigan 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • Michigan 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • Michigan $74,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • Michigan 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • Michigan $20,103
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • Michigan $207

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • Michigan 47%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • Michigan 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • Michigan Medium
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • Michigan No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • Michigan 62%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • Michigan 13%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • Michigan 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • Michigan 5%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • Michigan 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • Michigan 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • Michigan 3%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • Michigan 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • Michigan 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • Michigan 52%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • Michigan 43%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UIC Yes
  • Michigan Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UIC No
  • Michigan No
  • Meal Plan
  • UIC Yes
  • Michigan Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UIC No
  • Michigan Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • UIC Yes
  • Michigan Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Chicago in Chicago, IL with University of Michigan Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Michigan Ann Arbor is larger than UIC based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 33,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); University of Michigan Ann Arbor is in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1.

UIC vs. Michigan Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or Michigan? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Illinois Chicago than Michigan ($10,852 vs. $17,574).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor are 7.1% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($15,328 vs. $16,500).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is 23.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UIC (about $3,398 more per year; $17,736.00 vs. $14,338.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 103.9% higher at Michigan than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $31,062 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Illinois Chicago than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (74% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students is 49.8% larger than aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students ($25,099 vs. $16,755).

UIC vs. Michigan Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UIC or Michigan? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Michigan and UIC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 210 points higher than at UIC (1240).
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at UIC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; Michigan - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; Michigan Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 47.3% at Michigan.

UIC vs. Michigan Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and Michigan? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $12,500 more per year than UIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $1,353 lower median loan debt than Michigan graduates ($18,750 vs. $20,103).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan graduates ($193 vs. $207).
  • More Michigan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.